For Good to do Nothing
Across dimensions of time and space, a young boy watched as his grandmother battled part of the evil from which he'd been spawned. He watched while the resentment that had slowly built up deep within his heart burned hotter than the heat of a million suns. For years he'd watched the others do nothing as his grandmother and the man who should have been his father fought their battles. First, against the Goa'uld, then the Ori, and now the Tau'ri fought valiantly against the Wraith of the Pegasus Galaxy (yet one more of the others' mistakes). They called it justice, their policy of non-interference. He'd been raised to obey, for if the others cast him out, the evil inside of him could never be controlled. 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.'
Shifu knew his mother's husband lived by those words, and he longed to make him proud. The year they'd spent together during Daniel's ascension had been the happiest of his young life. He'd greedily soaked up the man he loved as a father's affection and teachings, and although it had caused him the worst pain he'd ever experienced, he'd been proud of Daniel's decision to walk the path of right, even if it cost him greatly. Daniel had sacrificed his life many times for what he knew to be right, Shifu could no longer sit back and do nothing.
"I must free my mother," he whispered into the cosmos.
Traveling to the dimension where his mother was held by the others had taken far longer than he'd wanted, but he possessed patience in extreme abundance. Finally, he found her. The others had very nearly expelled his grandmother for teaching his mother to ascend, but he'd been able to argue that since his mother was a daughter of the ancients she would have automatically had the knowledge even if only unconsciously. That hadn't stopped them from imprisoning her in their way. He ached to see her trapped in deepest sleep, surrounded by walls of light. "Hello, my sweet child," a rich deep voice rumbled into his mind.
"Grandfather," he replied respectfully. "I have come to free her. She alone can help grandmother destroy Anubis once and for all."
"Your grandmother would object strongly to such an action, dear one. She has always insisted that you follow the rules the others have laid down for your own safety, and for the safety of those who might be harmed by the knowledge within you," the old man responded tenderly, with all of the compassion he possessed.
"If I continue to stand by and do nothing a new evil will fester within me. Should I become one evil to conquer another?"
"Listen to him, Father!" his uncle Skaara cried out. "How long can these injustices go on? How long can we sit, while the elders continue to wallow in their apathy and arrogance? Sha're would never choose this and you know it!"
"And what of her son?" Kasuf roared. "What happens to him if the others cast him out? You and your sister could fight! If he is cast out, then he is doomed!"
"It must be my choice, grandfather, and I am willing to accept the consequences, but I can no longer sit by and allow evil to triumph." With those words, a young boy reached into the limitless resources of strength his mind gave him and shattered the walls.
Immediately the others came down upon Shifu. "You have broken our laws and a covenant young one," they accused as one voice.
"I am ready to accept your judgment," he answered. "What I have done, is what every sapient being must do, I have followed my conscience."
"Very well then," they answered.
Shifu cleared his mind when suddenly everything changed. A rush of power unlike anything anyone had experienced in countless millennia burst forth as his mother awakened. Her soft voice echoed throughout the vastness of time and space. "I am Sha're of Abydos, daughter of Kasuf and Oma Desala. I was once the wife of Daniel Jackson of the Tau'ri. I was taken by the Goa'uld Amaunet, and made a slave, but I defeated her. Through the teachings of my mother I have followed the path of enlightenment, and I tell you now—you will not harm my son!"
"We will discuss what is to be done," the others replied, and then they vanished.
"Mother, we must help grandmother. She fights Anubis!"
In an instant both mother, son, and all who ascended from Abydos reached Oma and Anubis locked in their violent struggle. "It is time to end this," Sha're announced. Together, as they had over eighteen years before the people of Abydos rose up to defeat evil, and once again they triumphed, as their collective will and energy overwhelmed Anubis and destroyed him.
After the battle, the others gathered in council. A female voice dripping with scorn and revulsion thundered. "We cannot allow the boy and his mother to thwart our laws!"
"Agreed," a clam but cold young male voice asserted. "They must be controlled or cast out. I believe the boy might still be willing to abide by our laws if we guarantee his mother will be unharmed, but if we cannot bring her under our laws then she must return to her confinement."
At this statement a male, ancient, winsome voice spoke out. "And what has the child done other than correct our wrong?"
"She is too powerful, for one so backward! Her willfulness makes her husband's look a docile child in comparison," the woman's harsh voice interjected.
"Is your opinion objective, or does your jealousy speak for you?" the winsome voice asked. "Although Sha're comes from a simple culture and a technologically primitive world, her mind is not backward. That is why you fear her. That is why you feared Daniel. They see what we have become, what we truly are now, and none of you can accept that we are wrong."
"Any abilities Sha're may have, come from Oma, although the Amaunet is dead, her memories live in Sha're. She is as tainted by evil as Anubis, or her son," the snide female voice snapped.
"She is scarred, not tainted," the winsome voice replied. "And her son is innocent of evil because he's chosen to deny his genetic memory," he added. "Like it or not, she is one of us."
"She is not. She is an abomination!" the cold hard voice of the young man stated. "Oma's decision to mate with Kasuf has had consequences that have destabilized two entire galaxies!"
"My Good son would have discovered how to use the Chappa'ai even if my daughter had never been born!" Kasuf interjected. "Why do you all insist on blaming us for the evil of others? What is the point of enlightenment without compassion and justice? I have remained silent too long out of respect for my wife and your wisdom, but now I see that it is not wisdom that guides your actions but cowardice!"
"Kasuf," the winsome voice soothed. "You are correct, but you are also incorrect. Our rules exist only for good reasons, but we have allowed ourselves to become stagnate—"
"My son," Sha're whispered tenderly to the boy. "I am so proud of you. Dan'iyel is as well, I know it."
"Thank you, Mother. I am only sorry that I did not follow my true path earlier," he answered softly. "However, I intend to remain on this path regardless of what the others decree. I must help the Asgard."
"The Asgard? My son, they have already detonated their home planet. How can you help them?" Sha're asked.
"Time, like the body, is meaningless in this level of existence, mother," he gently chided.
"I have been asleep many years, little one. I have much to learn. Perhaps you will be my teacher?" she answered with a voice full of love and hope.
"I cannot teach you what you already know, mother. However, we will walk with each other until our paths separate."
"I love you so very much, my son."
"I love you, mother."
Daniel Jackson ran through the hallways of the SGC bursting with excitement, much to the irritation and confusion of Vala Mal Doran. "Daniel, if you do not stop running this very instant I will find a way to embarrass you so completely you will blush scarlet red for months, after I cause you pain!" she snapped as she struggled to keep up.
"General Landry needs this information now, Vala!" he retorted, not breaking his stride.
"It's just more ancient rocks!" she pouted.
"Ancient rocks that will help Atlantis when they return to the Pegasus Galaxy!" Daniel nearly growled as he reached the door to Landry's office.
"And do you really think you'll get to go just because the rocks will help them understand a few unknown systems?" she whined as the General's voice came through.
"It's worth a shot," Daniel grinned as they stepped through.
It took every ounce of Vala's limited abilities of control not to scream her head off during Daniel's briefing with General Landry. The Wraith war with The Ancients, secret research, blah, blah, blah… 'Why does he want to study Atlantis and the Ancients so badly? All the Ancients we've ever met have been rude, patronizing, and arrogant beyond anything the Goa'uld could ever dream. Well, maybe Merlin and Morgan weren't so awful. I never met the mysterious Oma, but Daniel left them twice. He doesn't like them, so why does he want to go to Atlantis so badly?' The question spun around her mind over and over until she wanted to tear it out with her bare hands.
"Doctor Jackson, I've submitted your request to Home World Security, and with Colonel Carter in command of The Hammond, and Colonel Mitchell assigned to head security on Atlantis while the IOA bickers over what to do, and who should be appointed in command of it, I'll assign both you and Ms. Mal Doran to work with the other research teams until official word comes in," Landry answered, forcing Vala away from her thoughts.
"UNSCHEDULED OFFWORLD ACTIVATION! INCOMING WORMWHOLE!" Walter's voice blared over the speakers as the klaxons roared.
The three raced to the gate room and crowded the smaller man. "Are we receiving and IDC code, Sargent?" Landry barked.
"Yes sir," he stuttered. "But this is impossible, this IDC belonged to Kasuf, Doctor Jackson's father-in-law."
"Do not open the Iris!" Landry yelled.
"Wait!" Vala shouted. "Daniel, you said that Oma helped all the people of Abydos ascend when Anubis destroyed the planet. What if they tossed your father-in-law out for trying to do something right? If you close the Iris, General, you may kill him."
"I can't take that risk Ms. Doran!" he ordered.
Vala whirled around to face Daniel who stood as calmly as she had ever seen him. "You're not going to say anything?" she shrieked in horror.
"If it is Kasuf, Shifu will never let him be harmed," he stated.
"It doesn't matter because the Iris just opened on its own," Walter cried out.
"Who's Shifu?" Vala demanded.
"Prepare for possible hostiles," Landry ordered.
Vala stood with her mouth hanging open in shock. 'How is he not freaking out right now? This is not the Daniel I know.' A bright light filled the room as a small boy stepped through the gate. "HOLD YOUR FIRE!" Daniel screamed as he raced to the gate.
"Daniel, wait!" Vala pleaded as she rushed to follow. "This isn't my cardio day!"
"Shifu!" Daniel cried out, grabbing the boy in his arms. "It's been too long, are you well?"
Shifu relaxed in Daniel's embrace soaking up his affection. "The path is sometimes arduous, but with striving comes great reward. There are many things I must tell you, Daniel, and I'm certain they will cause you some pain, but please believe that I have done my best to honor all I have learned from you."
Daniel stiffened as fear flooded his mind. "Shifu, are you in trouble with the others?" He knew Shifu had followed Oma up until the others had locked her in limbo, and then she'd left to battle Anubis. Unfortunately, he had no way of knowing anything that might have happened to him after. If the others had cast him out… he couldn't even bare the pain from the thought.
"I am an outcast, but the others will not banish me. They know the danger is too great, and I am too strong to be confined," the boy assured. "I have watched you, Daniel, and I have learned that it is no longer enough to merely forget the evil inside of me. I must also take action when I see a wrong being done. Thus, I walk a new path, but this one is not without peril and because of that I must ask your forgiveness and your help."
"Excuse me," Vala interrupted with a sweet smile. "Hello, little man. It seems Daniel has once again forgotten his manners and neglected to make the proper introductions."
"You are Vala Mal Doran," Shifu answered. "You have stepped on a great path, but until you cast out fear and guilt the way will seem unclear. It is not others from which you must seek peace, but from yourself. Thank you for making Daniel laugh."
"Okay, I thought I'd seen just as much ridiculousness that one could see from The Ancients but taking a child!" Vala snorted indignantly. Instantly her face transformed into an expression of abject horror. "Daniel, tell me you did NOT mate with some snooty Ancient woman and abandon the child when you came back!"
"Vala!" Daniel snapped as harshly as he dared. Losing his temper would not solve this new mystery.
"DANIEL!" she yelled at the top of her voice. "This child should not be spouting cryptic riddles surrounded by those self-righteous idiots! He should be playing silly ball games you Tau'ri men adore. He should be eating sweets and making friends! But I forgot, you were born an old man with no idea how to be happy!"
"VALA, SHUT UP!" Daniel bellowed, his eyes filled with such rage that even Landry felt a jolt of fear.
"Rage is a poison only reason can cure," Shifu reproached. Stepping out of Daniel's arms he stood tall and dignified. "I am Harcesis."
"Oh my God!" Vala gasped. "The son of Apophis and…"
"Sha're! Yes, so shut up about things you have no understanding of!" Daniel viciously spat.
"To strike at a friend is to become your own worst enemy!" Shifu sighed, slightly dismayed by Daniel's anger. "Oma has protected me from the evil I carry by submerging it deep in my subconscious, but if I were to remain on this level, eventually the knowledge will break through."
"You poor thing!" Vala said, rushing to hug him, but stopped seeing Daniel scowl. "Apparently your stepfather doesn't want me near you," she swallowed heavily, trying to force down the bile and shame building within her.
"Shifu, why have you come?" Daniel whispered.
"Anubis has been destroyed, and Oma is now free," the boy began hesitantly, wanting to give the Tau'ri time to comprehend each revelation he'd come to impart.
"How?" Daniel gasped.
"Patience is as a current under a calm sea, adding strength and direction to knowledge," Shifu reminded his 'stepfather' with a small smile. "Once Oma, myself and those who agreed with us, defeated Anubis, Oma and another, aided Ganos Lal in the battle with the so-called Orici. She has been imprisoned never to harm others again," he turned to Vala and gently took her hand. "Remember, it is choice that defines whether one is good or evil. The Orici made her choices. You are not responsible for them."
"Easier said than believed, little man," Vala murmured.
"Your path has been paved with much sorrow," Shifu continued gently. "To find peace, you must open yourself to knowledge and the care of others. Some burdens are too great to bear alone."
"I think you should be giving that advice to someone else," Vala answered coolly, glaring at Daniel.
"A magnet can only be joined by opposite forces," the boy muttered thoughtfully raising his eyebrow.
"If I may interrupt this family reunion of sorts," Landry interjected, trying to keep his voice pleasant and welcoming for the young boy. "I am General Landry, the leader of the SGC."
"Yes," Shifu bowed deeply. "The death of General Hammond caused great sadness for many including myself. You lead with prudence and diligence."
"Given what I've read about you, son, I take that as a great compliment," Landry replied. "Not that we're not thrilled to hear the news about Anubis, and the Orici, but you mentioned needing help."
Out of all emotions that Shifu kept under control fear remained the most difficult when it came to Daniel. His very existence caused the deepest wounds on Daniel's soul, something that gave him deep wounds as well. His words now would either cause Daniel exquisite joy, or more pain. 'The light inside must guide each one on the path of the unknown.' "Daniel during your time on the higher planes we spent a great deal of time together. You taught me many things, and you told me often that you enjoyed my company-"
"Oh, Shifu, I might not remember, but I know that I must have cherished every moment I had with you," Daniel said hoarsely, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.
Shifu took Daniel's hand in his own. "You must forgive me, Daniel, for I have done you a great wrong. A wrong that you may not be able to forgive as easily as you have forgiven me in the past."
Daniel knelt in front of him wrapping him in an embrace once more. "Shifu, from the moment I helped your mother bring you into the world, I've seen your courage. I am the last person in this universe or on any plane you should fear."
"Mother lives. Please forgive me for not telling you," his soft voice shook with terror.
"OH MY GOD!" Vala shrieked.
The words barely touched his ears when Daniel felt his heart race and everything but Shifu faded into blackness. "If you didn't tell me, I know you had many good reasons, but you must tell me everything now."
"Oma is not only my protector, Daniel. She is also my grandmother," Shifu began haltingly, bracing himself for Daniel's righteous anger. "You know that Oma was considered outcast by the others though they never banished her formally. After millennia alone, she became terribly lonely. When Ra abandoned Abydos, she thought that she might find disciples to guide on the path of enlightenment. She took human form and eventually fell in love with Kasuf... Knowing that if the others discovered she'd mated with a lower without giving up her powers they'd take her and the children from her husband, she carefully hid her abilities. Her original intention was to wait until both mother and Skaara reached adulthood, and then reveal herself to the entire family. Unfortunately, the others discovered her when Skaara was still small. So, she made a deal… in exchange leaving her family and proving that her offspring had no knowledge or abilities of the Ancients, the others would leave mother, Skaara, and Grandfather alone. She had no way of knowing Ra would return, or that you would discover the way to use earth's stargate. She certainly could never have foreseen Apophis' invasion."
"Why wouldn't she tell me this?" Daniel groaned, surprised that he still felt the sting of betrayal from the politics of the Ancients.
"If she had, her punishment would have been far worse than what they did to her for Anubis," Shifu shrugged. "Mother told me that after she'd been taken by Aumanet, Oma would come to her whenever the Gao'uld slept, or used the Sarcophagus. That's how she learned to speak to you through the hand device, and how she could subdue Aumanet for short periods to protect you. Because of what happened with Anubis, Oma didn't dare attempt to teach mother any of the abilities that her heritage made possible. Mother convinced Aumanet to send me to Kheb so that Oma could take me without censure. When Teal'c shot her," he continued, flinching slightly at the pain in Daniel's eyes. "She ascended when you fell unconscious, Oma hid it from the rest of your team. It was the only way the others would allow it to happen, but after, they imprisoned mother much like we have done with the Orici. I knew nothing of this until after Anubis destroyed Abydos, I swear to you Daniel! I knew nothing!" Shifu cried out.
"You couldn't tell me because you couldn't free her? If you'd tried the others would have cast you out and done only God knows what to everyone Oma saved on Abydos," Daniel guessed, the words burning in his throat like a sandstorm.
"Oma insisted that she did not destroy your memories, and that eventually, you would remember the things she'd taught you. I think she'd been giving you clues about her past, but they must have been extremely obscure even for her," the faintest twitching of the corners of his lips conveyed the intended moment of levity. "I waited, and I watched as the Ori nearly destroyed the galaxy, I watched as you fought, I watched Oma fight, I watched as Ganus Lal broke free from the arrogant apathy that plagues us to fight the Orici. I watched those Tau'ri in the Pegasus galaxy defend the innocent worlds from the Wraith, working to find a way to end the Wraith's dependence on humans for feeding. I waited for you to want to remember, and during that time I learned. Eventually, I attained the level of ability that could free mother, and I did. Grandfather worried that the others would cast me out, but I swore to you that I would remember one thing above all else that you taught me. A quote from Burke—"
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing," Daniel sighed, pulling Shifu tighter to his chest.
"I cannot continue to do nothing. If I do, I am no better than the evil I deny. After I freed mother, she confronted the others. We, and the people of Abydos helped Oma defeat Anubis, and then both mother and Oma left to fight and capture the Orici. Mother was very emphatic that I not accompany them, and threatened Skaara that if he did not watch after me properly, he would regret it," a small grin broke out on his face. "Something tells me that you did not make mother angry often."
"You are very wise," Daniel laughed. "Where is she now?"
"After the Orici was imprisoned, mother and I decided that leaving the Asgard to suffer extinction when The Ancients were once their greatest allies, was irresponsible-"
"Are you saying you and your mother altered time!" Vala stuttered.
"The Tau'ri have altered time before," Shifu answered with a smile. "But, we could only go so far as to plant an idea. Much like you did when O'Neill was captured by Ba'al and you influenced Lord Yu to attack, providing a distraction for his rescue."
"Son, if you and your mother were able to save the Asgard of this galaxy, when will we know?" General Landry reluctantly interrupted.
"Daniel once taught me a very wise saying. 'For everything there is a season,' the time will come when it comes."
"Where is Sha're, Shifu?" Daniel begged.
"After we helped the Asgard, mother and I explored together. She told me that the longing she had for me as my mother had been suppressed for so long that the pain had nearly destroyed her mind, both under Aumanet, and while imprisoned by the others," a strange swelling sensation filled the throat of his corporeal form, making the words difficult to speak. "The others threatened to imprison her again if either we or Oma tried to contact you. So, mother said we should use some time to bond together while we waited for the opportunity to reunite with you. I'd never been to the Pegasus galaxy, and Ganus Lal was always watching over Atlantis, so we felt that might be a good place to start. That's when we found the Replicator form of Doctor. Weir."
"I think I know where this is going!" Daniel interjected. "I know your mother, she would never sit back and allow someone to suffer a punishment like that."
"You are correct, and mother is very powerful. That's why the others fear her more than they ever have me or Oma. She took the Replicator form of Weir to one of the more remote outposts of the Ancient's territories—"
"How remote?" General Landry demanded.
"It resides in a galaxy just beyond Pegasus in a completely uninhabited solar system. Renegades we may be, General, but reckless we are not. Then she transferred Doctor Weir's consciousness into an empty database and began constructing a new body for her based on some of her genetic material stored in Atlantis. For the others it was as you say, 'the final straw.' The others demanded that she be banished, and they wanted to banish me as well, but as Oma did before, mother made a deal—"
"In return for allowing you to stay under Oma's protection she would descend." Daniel finished.
"She also swore that when the time of her natural human lifespan came to an end she would not seek ascension. She refused to give up her memories, knowledge, or healing powers, and another ability she refused to explain to me, but she is the woman you knew on Abydos. She now lives on a planet in the Pegasus galaxy with Doctor Weir. It took time for me to convince Oma to let me come. She truly thought you would want to remember, and then figure most of it out yourself, but patience and procrastination are two different things! I could wait no longer."
Daniel forced himself to keep still and breathe when all he wanted was to fly Atlantis back to Pegasus himself. "How long did you wait?"
"Six of your standard earth months. It took time to deal with Anubis, the Orici, the Asgard, and not to mention helping Doctor Weir."
"Why didn't she come to me?" Daniel snapped, unable to control the emotional turmoil flooding his soul.
"She wanted to, Daniel, but part of the bargain hinged on her submitting to the others' choosing a planet. They don't want you together, they know what you're both capable of! Besides, she felt obligated to protect Doctor Weir. She couldn't let her try to find a way here alone."
"If they don't want your mother and Daniel reunited then why are they letting you do this?" Vala asked, ignoring the panic building in her stomach at the thought of such a reunion.
"Mother said that if the others ever interfered with me, she would ascend and, do to them what they would do to me. Mother had enough support from Oma's followers to carry out the threat."
"So basically, you have a mother's note to do as you please on a universal scale," Vala giggled slightly hysterically.
"No, I am bound by some laws of the others, but more importantly, I am bound by my conscience."
"Son, just what is it you need our help for?" General Landry asked, trying to wrap his mind around the astonishing events of the last ten minutes."
"My mother is human, General. She needs the other half of her family, and protection. My family and I can only do so much. Daniel must go to her, along with the Tau'ri of Atlantis to recover Doctor Weir."
"General, we better get Jack on the phone," Daniel stated, rising to his feet.